Secaucus cops bust six in alleged prostitution sting
Six people from New York and New Jersey were recently arrested in an alleged prostitution sting, according to the Secaucus Police Department.
On Friday, Nov. 5, between approximately 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., the Secaucus Police Department, working in conjunction with two other law enforcement agencies, arrested five women and one man at a Secaucus hotel for alleged crimes ranging from prostitution to promoting prostitution and hindering arrest.
Detective Sergeant Thomas O’Keefe of the Secaucus Police Department’s Detectives Bureau declined to name the hotel where the arrests were made and did not want to identify the two other law enforcement agencies that assisted in making the arrests.
The six arrested included: Kai Song, 42, Yong Di Murphy, 41, and Wang Zilam, 40, all of Queens, NY; Xue Bai, 25, of Flushing, NY; Tionna B. Williams, 21, of Jersey City; and Meillsa Alvarez, 27, of Paterson.
Song was charged with promoting prostitution, while Murphy, Zilam, Bai, and Williams were charged with engaging in prostitution. Alvarez was arrested and charged with hindering arrest for allegedly providing the police with false information.
O’Keefe said law enforcement became aware of the alleged crimes through a website that advertises “adult services” online and in local newspapers. Websites such as Backpage.com and ErosGuide.com, which on Monday included ads from several young ladies who offer services in and around Secaucus, have been pressured by law enforcement to discontinue their adult services listings.
However, tips from these sites have led to numerous arrests in recent months in West New York, Hoboken, and now Secaucus.
Assembly considers new affordable housing bill
On Monday the State Assembly began discussions on revised affordable housing legislation that had been scrapped last summer.
Under the revised legislation, New Jersey municipalities would be able to rezone vacant land for market rate housing for residents who earn up to 150 percent of the municipality’s median income. Developers who build in these zones would have the option of either setting aside 10 percent of the units built for affordable housing or paying a fee to the municipality. The fees paid by developers would be equal to 3 percent of the total cost of the project.
Municipalities would be required to use the fees collected from developers to build affordable housing. Municipalities that did not use the fees to build affordable housing would risk having this money confiscated by the state.
Other provisions in the legislation include the elimination of the state Council on Affordable Housing and the elimination of affordable housing requirements. The bill also does not specifically require municipalities or developers to build affordable housing units.
A state Senate version of the bill, S-1, sponsored by Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) and Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-Somerville), was passed over the summer.
The original Assembly version of the legislation, A-2057, was scrapped after housing advocates complained that the Lesniak-Bateman bill did too little to ensure the creation of affordable housing in New Jersey.
The new Assembly bill, known as A-3447, was sponsored by Assemblyman and Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green (D-Plainfield).
People to People fundraiser
On Sunday, Nov. 21 from noon until 2 p.m., the People to People International GIFT student chapter will host its annual fundraiser – this year with a festive luau theme. The event, which costs $25 for adults and $15 for students and seniors, will include lunch, entertainment, and a silent auction. Seating is limited. To RSVP, call Cathy Lienhard at (201) 865-6164 or Cathy Wolf at (201) 320-8491. The fundraiser will take place at Cheeseburger in Paradise, 700 Plaza Dr., Secaucus.
Concert at library
Classical pianist Gabrielius Alekna, the organist at Secaucus’ St. Matthew’s Church, will perform a concert at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. For the concert, Alekna will perform a range of classical selections by Beethoven, Debuussy, and Bela Bartok. Born in Vilnius, Lithuania, Alekna began his musical studies at the age of five. He later earned a BA, MA, and doctorate in music from the Julliard School. Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center, 1379 Paterson Plank Rd., Secaucus. For more information, call (201) 330-2083.